Seeding the future

Last year I occasionally found avocados whilst walking in a specific section of my dog walking park, and naturally wondered where they came from. The only story I could come up with was that a school child walking that route took advantage of the seclusion to dump unwanted lunchbox contents. Then recently I found three avocadoes at once, in a very small area. This finally pushed my curiosity over the edge. And as I came up with more and more fanciful stories, I remembered the principle of Occam's Razor, that the simplest answer is often the best.

And finally I looked up. And lo and behold – well actually it was confirmed later by someone with actual plant knowledge– was a very large avocado tree.

I like thinking about that avocado tree. It’s a great reminder of how things happen in our lives. We all know the adage that every journey starts with just one step. And sometimes it helps us to remember the past steps we’ve taken – one single step to try something, say something new or choose to feel differently. And many moons later – maybe even decades – we are walking a new path because of it, and reflect with gratitude on that initial tiny start.

I also like to think about the person who one day, a long time ago, dropped an avocado. They likely didn’t realise that their actions would one day, literally bear fruit. And now I occasionally eat wild avocados (although it must be said that they have enormous seeds). And I wonder if maybe it’s these actions that are even more important, where we don’t even intend consequences, let along know them.  It can help us to remember that something we’re doing today, no matter how small or unintentional, may grow to be a beautiful gift to the world :), and help us value all that we are.